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extrapenguinTitling is Hard, and while sometimes I get an idea for a thematic little phrase (ex. Snow Over Old Tracks), mostly it's very hard. The other type of title I'm overly fond of is the "X, Y with bonus alliteration" type (eg. Babbling Brook, Silent Sea or Rediscovery, Reconstruction). Occasionally, though, there's a nice poem or song lyric to crib from! Here, some examples frorm this year's work, with explanations and links.
When the Honor Comes too Late is from Sarah Williams' The Old Astronomer, fourth stanza, slightly modded. It fits Wei Wuxian's death and eventual reincarnation in the fic very, very well:
(The rest of the poem is wonderful as well, even if the last two lines of the fourth stanza are the ones that best echo with me.)
Date of Rebirth is from a song by Origa as part of the Ghost in the Shell SAC OST. Song, translation. The title works for the fic – there is, after all, a rebirth – and the rest of the song lyrics also fit Song Lan nicely, from canon and the fic.
Alarms Will Ring for Eternity is a line directly from the song it's based on, and as long as Chila's alive, the alarms will definitely be ringing for forever.
And All is Wasted on the Land gets its title from an edited line from the song it's based on. "And all is wasted in the sand" -> "And all is wasted on the land".
My Unconquerable Soul (which I really need to return to) comes from William Ernest Henley's Invictus, which very perfectly encapsulates my aversion to religion, predestination, and the concept of soulmates, so of course I had to title my soulmate subversion thingy with a line from it! (I just ... really hate the concept of soulmates, it seems.)
Then there's also "inspired by vague memories of a quote" titles, like Despite the Warning Signs (after the very fic-fitting Troubled Birds card), Gaze into the Abyss (very technically a Nietzsche reference, and I suppose the Abyss gazed also into Lan Wangji), and The Truth Shall Set You Free (upon googling, a Bible reference, but whatever, it fits).
Do you often title your fics after poetry/songs/quotes, or do you have no titling method in particular? If you go for poetry snippets etc, how much attention do you pay to the rest of the poem fitting the fic? Is there a type of fic that gets poetry/song/quote titles etc disproportionately often?
When the Honor Comes too Late is from Sarah Williams' The Old Astronomer, fourth stanza, slightly modded. It fits Wei Wuxian's death and eventual reincarnation in the fic very, very well:
You may tell that German College that their honour comes too late.
But they must not waste repentance on the grizzly savant's fate;
Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light;
I have loved the stars too truly to be fearful of the night.
(The rest of the poem is wonderful as well, even if the last two lines of the fourth stanza are the ones that best echo with me.)
Date of Rebirth is from a song by Origa as part of the Ghost in the Shell SAC OST. Song, translation. The title works for the fic – there is, after all, a rebirth – and the rest of the song lyrics also fit Song Lan nicely, from canon and the fic.
Alarms Will Ring for Eternity is a line directly from the song it's based on, and as long as Chila's alive, the alarms will definitely be ringing for forever.
And All is Wasted on the Land gets its title from an edited line from the song it's based on. "And all is wasted in the sand" -> "And all is wasted on the land".
My Unconquerable Soul (which I really need to return to) comes from William Ernest Henley's Invictus, which very perfectly encapsulates my aversion to religion, predestination, and the concept of soulmates, so of course I had to title my soulmate subversion thingy with a line from it! (I just ... really hate the concept of soulmates, it seems.)
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
Then there's also "inspired by vague memories of a quote" titles, like Despite the Warning Signs (after the very fic-fitting Troubled Birds card), Gaze into the Abyss (very technically a Nietzsche reference, and I suppose the Abyss gazed also into Lan Wangji), and The Truth Shall Set You Free (upon googling, a Bible reference, but whatever, it fits).
Do you often title your fics after poetry/songs/quotes, or do you have no titling method in particular? If you go for poetry snippets etc, how much attention do you pay to the rest of the poem fitting the fic? Is there a type of fic that gets poetry/song/quote titles etc disproportionately often?